VES16 Cell
Saft
Space-qualified D-size 16 Wh lithium-ion cell designed for LEO and GEO satellite applications.
Technical specifications
- Chemistry
- Li-ion NCA
- Nominal Capacity
- 4.5 Ah
- Nominal Energy
- 16 Wh
- Specific Energy
- > 155 Wh/kg
- Voltage Range
- 2.7 – 4.1 V
- Mass
- ≤ 112 g
- Diameter
- 33 mm
- Height
- 60 mm
- Format
- D-size cylindrical
- Cycle Life (LEO)
- > 60,000 cycles at 20–40% DOD
- Design Life
- > 12 years
- Orbit Compatibility
- LEO, MEO, GEO
About
The VES16 is a D-size (33 mm × 60 mm) 16 Wh / 4.5 Ah space lithium-ion cell based on long-life, low-fading NCA chemistry. It is the building block for Saft’s VES16 battery family and is designed for the demanding cycling requirements of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions, delivering more than 60,000 charge-discharge cycles with less than 20% capacity fade at 20–40% depth of discharge over a 12-year mission life.
The VES16 cell has been in orbit since December 2015 aboard TELEOS-1 and powers 75 Iridium NEXT satellites. Cells are manufactured at Saft’s Bordeaux facility and are qualified under CNES contract. The voltage range is 2.7–4.1 V, specific energy exceeds 155 Wh/kg, and mass is ≤ 112 g.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
